Vote counting starts in Madagascar poll

Voters in Madagascar have cast their ballots to begin the process of choosing the Indian Ocean island nation's next president from a pool of 36 candidates.

Source: Reuters

Vote counting has started in Madagascar, where citizens have cast their ballots with hopes that a new leader will take the Indian Ocean island nation out of chronic poverty and corruption.

Polls closed at 5pm local time on Wednesday after a day of generally calm and uneventful voting.

The 36 presidential candidates have all promised to improve the country's economy, create new jobs and end graft.

However the three leaders in the race are familiar faces who offer little chance of a dramatic change, say political analysts.

The winner must take more than 50 per cent of the votes cast, and with such a large number of candidates, it is likely the race will go to a second round, scheduled for December 19.

The three former presidents who are the leading candidates have all voted - Marc Ravalomanana, Andry Rajoelina and Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

With an estimated 76 per cent of its 25 million people in extreme poverty, Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to the World Bank.